Three Trojans Honored in NAIA World Series All-Tournament Awards
LEWISTON, Idaho – An incredible run in the NAIA College World Series saw Ben Kalbaugh and Brayden Manning named to the All-Tournament Team and Sam Gladd earn the Charles Berry Hustle Award.
Kalbaugh and Manning were named to the All-Tournament Team after terrific displays in Lewiston. Manning earned the distinction on the back of an impressive display at the plate, going 9-18 with four doubles, three RBI, and five runs scored. The Lakeville, Minnesota native also drew a walk and stole a base in Lewiston while playing a dynamic left field. Kalbaugh had key hits throughout, smashing two doubles and totaling seven RBI. The senior was a strong performer in the field, not allowing a single passed ball behind the plate and not committing a single error while earning 23 putouts and one assist.
Gladd received the Charles Berry Hustle Award after an outstanding performance at the dish in four games. The freshman ripped four home runs, tallied ten RBI, and four runs scored, to go along with a 7-15 display at the plate that included two walks. Gladd hit a two-run bomb in the win against Georgia Gwinnett, which gave the Trojans an 8-6 lead they would hold onto and extend for a 23-7 victory. The Columbia City native proved clutch again one day later with homers in back-to-back innings against Westmont, the second of which gave TU a 9-8 advantage.
The NAIA World Series All-Tournament Team consisted of 16 individuals from six of the ten schools that made it to the NAIA College World Series. Taylor was one of five schools that had multiple players on the All-Tournament Team.